The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially resumed the issuance of work visas to Nigerian citizens and those of 12 other countries months after it lifted the visa restrictions placed upon them.
Saudi Arabia had abruptly halted all Temporary Work Visas (TWVs) processing in April by removing the option from the Qiwa platform, its central portal for managing work permits.
The pause was likely tied to the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, as each year, Saudi Arabia restricts several visa categories during the pilgrimage season to manage crowd control and national resources.
In addition to halting TWVs, the Saudi government also paused:
- Tourist e-visas
- Visa-on-Arrival
- Umrah permits
- Entry for some family and business visitors
Countries That Had Their Bans Lifted
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Yemen
However, Ethiopian nationals are still not eligible, with no clear explanation or timeline for resumption.
